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New Format 2026 All Ireland

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Replying To legendzxix:  "People used to give out about the matches to training ratio. Too few matches! Now it has gone the other way.
Rounds 3, 4 and 5 in the league and 6, 7 and finals for those who make the league finals are probably the best preparation for that schedule later in the year."
This is something the GAA has been bad at.

Over correcting.

The season can be both to spaced out previously and now too condensed. There's such a thing as a happy medium. It's the same with the split season and certainty over club fixtures. It's being insured at the expense of having county players being available to their clubs.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4611 - 28/06/2025 14:50:52    2621743

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The "New Format 2026 All Ireland" double elimination could be applied in group stage format instead:
• Round 1 winners playing each other in Round 2.
• Top 2 only qualifying for quarter finals.
• 2 home games for provincial finalists.
• 1 home game for league qualifiers.
• Provincial winners at home to 2 and 3
• Provincial runners up at home to 3 and 4
• Seed 3 at home to 4.
• Seed 4 at home to provincial winners.
2025 EXAMPLE:
Group 1: Donegal, Mayo, Tyrone and Cavan.
1. Tyrone beat Donegal and Cavan beat Mayo.
2. Tyrone beat Cavan and Donegal beat Mayo.
3. Donegal (1 win) v Cavan (1 win) in quarter final playoff. Tyrone (2 wins) v Mayo (2 losses) is what it is. Tyrone already qualified and Mayo already eliminated.
Group 2: Kerry, Meath, Roscommon and Cork.
1. Kerry beat Roscommon and Meath beat Cork.
2. Meath shock Kerry and Cork beat Roscommon.
3. Kerry (1 win) v Cork (1 win). Meath (2 wins) v Roscommon (2 losses)
Group 3: Louth, Clare, Monaghan and Down.
1. Monaghan beat Louth and Down beat Clare.
2. Monaghan beat Down and Louth beat Clare.
3. Down (1 win) v Louth (1 win). Monaghan (2 wins) v Clare (0 wins)
Group 4: Galway, Armagh, Dublin and Derry.
1. Dublin beat Galway and Armagh beat Derry.
2. Armagh beat Dublin and Galway draw with Derry.
3. Dublin (2 points) v Derry (1 point). Armagh (4 points) v Galway (1 point).
NOTES:
Group stage guarantees at least 1 home game. The trade off is that 2 wins v 2 losses in round 3 are dead rubbers. The decision boils down to double elimination avoiding all dead rubbers or group stage guaranteeing 1 home game.
The media can complain about dead rubbers but as the other round 3 clash will have quarter final qualification on the line - they can just focus on those fixtures.
Butter or mayo? Beef or salmon? Tea or coffee? Avoid dead rubbers or guarantee 1 home game??!!
In a straight vote, would be interesting to see which one of the two would be more preferred. At least 51% support for one over the other should suffice.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9008 - 05/07/2025 07:51:55    2623700

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Replying To legendzxix:  "The "New Format 2026 All Ireland" double elimination could be applied in group stage format instead:
• Round 1 winners playing each other in Round 2.
• Top 2 only qualifying for quarter finals.
• 2 home games for provincial finalists.
• 1 home game for league qualifiers.
• Provincial winners at home to 2 and 3
• Provincial runners up at home to 3 and 4
• Seed 3 at home to 4.
• Seed 4 at home to provincial winners.
2025 EXAMPLE:
Group 1: Donegal, Mayo, Tyrone and Cavan.
1. Tyrone beat Donegal and Cavan beat Mayo.
2. Tyrone beat Cavan and Donegal beat Mayo.
3. Donegal (1 win) v Cavan (1 win) in quarter final playoff. Tyrone (2 wins) v Mayo (2 losses) is what it is. Tyrone already qualified and Mayo already eliminated.
Group 2: Kerry, Meath, Roscommon and Cork.
1. Kerry beat Roscommon and Meath beat Cork.
2. Meath shock Kerry and Cork beat Roscommon.
3. Kerry (1 win) v Cork (1 win). Meath (2 wins) v Roscommon (2 losses)
Group 3: Louth, Clare, Monaghan and Down.
1. Monaghan beat Louth and Down beat Clare.
2. Monaghan beat Down and Louth beat Clare.
3. Down (1 win) v Louth (1 win). Monaghan (2 wins) v Clare (0 wins)
Group 4: Galway, Armagh, Dublin and Derry.
1. Dublin beat Galway and Armagh beat Derry.
2. Armagh beat Dublin and Galway draw with Derry.
3. Dublin (2 points) v Derry (1 point). Armagh (4 points) v Galway (1 point).
NOTES:
Group stage guarantees at least 1 home game. The trade off is that 2 wins v 2 losses in round 3 are dead rubbers. The decision boils down to double elimination avoiding all dead rubbers or group stage guaranteeing 1 home game.
The media can complain about dead rubbers but as the other round 3 clash will have quarter final qualification on the line - they can just focus on those fixtures.
Butter or mayo? Beef or salmon? Tea or coffee? Avoid dead rubbers or guarantee 1 home game??!!
In a straight vote, would be interesting to see which one of the two would be more preferred. At least 51% support for one over the other should suffice."
Let's guarantee support of more than 70% instead!

✓ Top 16 for Sam
✓ Draw two rds in advance (1 at home/1 away, open draw)
✓ Winner on the day (to 2-pts lead in Extra Time, no PKs)
✓ Double elimination
✓ Two wins to QFs (0-8 teams); one win to PQFs (0-16)
✓ No dead rubbers

Why vote against it - what's not to like?

omahant (USA) - Posts: 3324 - 08/07/2025 13:08:22    2624375

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All the knockouts have been terrible this year. Group of death saved the group stages

Kew (Galway) - Posts: 242 - 13/07/2025 17:21:44    2625296

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Replying To Kew:  "All the knockouts have been terrible this year. Group of death saved the group stages"
For Galway fans maybe.

shaggykev (Donegal) - Posts: 404 - 13/07/2025 21:02:59    2625398

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Well done Donegal

cuchulainn35 (Armagh) - Posts: 1691 - 13/07/2025 21:33:42    2625410

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Replying To shaggykev:  "For Galway fans maybe."
What game was good ?

Kew (Galway) - Posts: 242 - 14/07/2025 12:47:24    2625587

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Replying To Kew:  "What game was good ?"
only Kerry V Armagh and the Donegal v Meath games were wipe outs. - every other game was an improvement on last years bag of **** championship

tirawleybaron (Mayo) - Posts: 1521 - 14/07/2025 13:24:56    2625609

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Replying To tirawleybaron:  "only Kerry V Armagh and the Donegal v Meath games were wipe outs. - every other game was an improvement on last years bag of **** championship"
The games clearly better, it's been disappointing some of the contests haven't really materialised. The closest game was really poor quality.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4611 - 17/07/2025 10:58:05    2626229

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Replying To Whammo86:  "The games clearly better, it's been disappointing some of the contests haven't really materialised. The closest game was really poor quality."
Is it a case of the extra space available for attackers leading to better teams pulling away easier and earlier?

Seanfanbocht (Roscommon) - Posts: 2547 - 17/07/2025 11:43:17    2626236

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Replying To Seanfanbocht:  "Is it a case of the extra space available for attackers leading to better teams pulling away easier and earlier?"
Yeah this was a worry I had when people wanted more openness.

At least in the long run it should mean that teams work hard on getting properly better rather than just working on how to be good at containing the opposition.

I'd say there's been a few teams disappointed with their performances on the day. Tyrone and Armagh versus Kerry. Meath lacked composure early on while they were still in the game with Donegal, Dublin were shocking versus Tyrone. There was probably the ingredients for better games there that didn't really materialise.

I also wonder if the hooter gives too much certainty around when the game will end and makes it harder to believe that there will be a comeback.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4611 - 18/07/2025 11:03:59    2626362

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I know this might be a stupid question but what are the actual structure changes for 2026? Are they getting rid of the all Ireland group stages and going straight to knockout after the provincial championships?

Green_Gold (Donegal) - Posts: 1922 - 18/07/2025 11:36:11    2626372

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Replying To Green_Gold:  "I know this might be a stupid question but what are the actual structure changes for 2026? Are they getting rid of the all Ireland group stages and going straight to knockout after the provincial championships?"
They go to a double elimination thing after the provincials.

Round 1 of 16 teams
Round 2A has the 8 round 1 winners
Round 2B has the 8 round 1 losers
Round 3 has the round 2A loser play the round 2B winners.
Quarterfinals have Round 2A winners v Round 3 winners.

No more groups.

Whammo86 (Antrim) - Posts: 4611 - 18/07/2025 13:57:12    2626413

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Replying To Whammo86:  "They go to a double elimination thing after the provincials.

Round 1 of 16 teams
Round 2A has the 8 round 1 winners
Round 2B has the 8 round 1 losers
Round 3 has the round 2A loser play the round 2B winners.
Quarterfinals have Round 2A winners v Round 3 winners.

No more groups."
Thanks for that explanation, I wasn't getting it all. Each team will get a second chance so a bit like the old style back door. My main gripe about the league format was that the games were coming to quick Hopefully they will space out the games better, give two weeks between each round of games.

For the Round 1 draw will they be seeding the teams or could you get anybody?

Green_Gold (Donegal) - Posts: 1922 - 18/07/2025 14:28:53    2626433

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Replying To Green_Gold:  "Thanks for that explanation, I wasn't getting it all. Each team will get a second chance so a bit like the old style back door. My main gripe about the league format was that the games were coming to quick Hopefully they will space out the games better, give two weeks between each round of games.

For the Round 1 draw will they be seeding the teams or could you get anybody?"
If you give 2 weeks between 2B and 3, and 2 weeks between 3 and the QFs the winners of 2A will be sitting around for 4 weeks!

Seanfanbocht (Roscommon) - Posts: 2547 - 18/07/2025 15:46:42    2626456

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Rounds 2A & 2B, Round 3 and the quarter finals likely being on three consecutive weekends will be exciting. 16 reducing to 12, 8 and 4 remaining after three consecutive weekends. It can be tough playing three consecutive weekends but the whole reward for winning rounds 1 and 2A will be the free weekend before the quarter finals.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 9008 - 18/07/2025 19:59:31    2626476

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